Handling device for feeding tools to a metal working machine



Aug. 18, 1959 J. SACK 2,900,095

HANDLING DEVICE FOR EEEDINO TOOLS TO A METAL WORKING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 25, 1957 FIG. 4.

FIG. l.`

Aug. 18, 1959 J, SACK 2,900,095

HANDLING DEVICE FOR FEEDING TOOLS TO METAL WORKING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Shea?l 2 INVENTOR JOEL SACK United States Patent O HANDLING DEVICE FOR'EEEDING TOOLS TO A METAL WORKING MAcmNE Joel Sack, Briarwood, N.Y., .assignor to"Baldwini-Lirna Hamilton Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a` corporation of Pennsylvania Original application October 25, 1957, Serial No. 692,443.

Divided and this application September 17, 1958, Serial No. 761,650

3 Claims. y(c1. 214-95) My invention relates to a handling device for feeding tools to alhorizontal lmetal working machine, and more particularly a convertible device for selectively handling disk-shaped or oblong tools.

This application isa divisiony ofmy copending ap- A dummy block is arranged between stem and heated billet to protect the .stern .and preventr from adhering thereto. .f

Normally, the billets are of circular cross section and, after heating, one of the billets is deposited on a loader the billet material connected tothe press. VThecorresponding round, diskshaped dumr'nyblock usually rolls down a chute whichk is curved so that, as required, it arrives at the loading station with its axis parallel to the axis loflthepress; The dummy block may then be deposited onthe billet loader and may vbe charged into the press .together with hebillet; j .5.' t

On the other hand, if :relativelyv wide extrusions .of

oblong cross section yare to vbe produced, it is of great advantage` to employ|` billets of corresponding oblong cross section. As the dummyblockslikewise willbe of 1 oblong shape, special means will be requiredif it is desired to feed such'blocks, as well as round blocks,

mechanically tothe loadingvstation so that they may be charged into "the pressl together-with the billet. Normally, it willl also be necessary' to move the blocks verftically to the levelof the yloading mechanism of the press. l 2 y Y It is anrobjectfof theinvention to provide asimple convertible handling device for selectively feed `diskshaped or oblong toolssuch asdummy blocks to a horizontal metal working machine.

It is also an object lofv the invention to provide a convertible handlingdev-ice of the. above type which will move the tools 'vertically to a'predetermined position and simultaneously `turn the same substantially through arightangle.., y

Various other objects, features and advantages, of lthi invention will become apparentes the description proceeds.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention by way of example,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a device according tO-the invention; t

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along l-ine 2--2 of Fig. l and showing the device adjusted for the handling of round dummies with the parts illustrated in full lines in the initial position and in chain lines in the discharge position;

2,900,095 Patented Ang. 18', 1959 ice 2 Fig.v 3 is Aa fragmentary view similar to-Fig. 2 but drawn on a still .larger scale, partly in section, and shows the zupper portion of the `feeding device with the parts illustrated in full lines in the discharge position;

Fig 4 lis a diagram illustrating a detail on a reduced scaleg I Fig.` 5 shows the lower' portion of Fig. 2 on a larger scale with the pants adjusted for feeding oblong dummy blocks.

"Referring'to: the drawings, an inclined `chute 10..,in-

dicated in chain lines in Fig. 1 extends generally parallel to the axis of a horizontal metal extrusion press (not shown) to return used, cleaned dummy blocks from the discharge end of the press fto the loading region. In

conventional arrangements which deal with rounddummies only ,the chute is curved near the billet loader so that the feeding direction is changed by degrees and the round ydummy blocks roll down towards the axis of the press and are deposited on a loader, eig., a billet loaderof the' -type shown inmy aforesaid copending application Ser. No.V 692,443. however, would not be suitable for oblong billets `since the latter would jam in the curved section of the chute. i

To overcome-these diculties, my device provides for turning the dummy blocks through an angle of 90 degrees while their forward motion is interrupted. At the sarnetime, the blocks are moved of the billet loader.

Referring 4in particularto Figs. 2 to 4 a housing genorally indicated at 1.1 comprises a cylindrical or tubular portion 12, a bottom 13,2and brackets 14 for supporting' the ,housing on the foundation 15. lThe housing an opening or window 16 registering with the chute 10v (Fig. l) so that a dummy block such as the roundV block shown in chain lines at 17 in Fig. 2 may enter the housing. v handled in the device is indicated at 17 inFig. 2. Op-

posite to the'opening 16, thehousing is provided with aV wear plate assembly 18 for the stopping of dummy blocks in-thefjhousing. The-bottom 13 has a tubular extension 19 and carries a double-acting cylinder and piston unit Cylinder 22 of the unit isr secured to the extension 19 by screws 23 while piston rodv 24 extends upwardly into the tubular extension 19. A connector 25 having a collar 26 intermediate its ends generally indicated at Y20.

isattached to the piston-rod 24k at 27.

A ywelded table structure kgenerally indicated at 30 is movable in housing 11 and comprises aA pipe section 32 having a pair of opposite laterall openings or windows 34which lreceive guide plates 36 and are of increased width at their lower ends 37 (Fig. 3) where they accommodate channel sections 38,' the plates 36 and channels 38 being joined to the walls of the windows so as. to bridge the space therebetween. The channel Asections 38 lare connected by two cross bars 40 (Fig. 2) and `carry a set of rollers 42 arranged'in' a sloping ,-iai'i'-v ner. A' cover plate 44 has one relativelyhigh rib 45 and," one' `lower rib` 46 midis releasably fastened to the cross .j bars 40by meansfofscrews ,48 to' form an inclined patti ',abovehefroller's ,42g It' should belnotedvthat'the vcover,4 plate 44 and itsribsdo notextend thro'gh the entire tn'c cord 58 attached thereto.

To connect table 30 to the actuating mechanism, the

SuchA arc-shaped path,

vertically tothe level The largest round block which mayj be pipe section 32 has a bottom lug 64 joined thereto by means of ribs 65, and the bottom lug has a bushed bore 66 to accommodate the upper end of the connector Z5. A sleeve 70 i-s'secured to the bottom lug 64 by means of scr'ews 72 and has an internal shoulder 74 facing the lower side of collar 26 of the connector 2,'5.v Antifriotion` bearings 76 are interposed between lug 64 and collar. 26, and between collar 26 and shoulder 74, in a manner such that the table 30 is freely rotatable relative to the piston rod 24 but will be taken along. by the piston rod in the vertical direction when the rod: is lifted or lowered. To guide the table 30 in housing 11 during such movements, bars or strips 78 (Fig. 3^) are joined to the outer wall of pipe section 32 and engage the inner wall of the tubular portion 12.

A roller 80` is mounted on a boss 82 of pipe section 32 and engages a curved slot 84 in the tubular portion 12 so that table 30 is caused to turn through an angle of 90 degrees when the piston rod 24 performs a full stroke. The shape of slot 84 is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4. It will be clear that the housing 111 andl its slot 84 serve as fixed guide means for the table 30. As indicated at 86 in Fig. 2, thetubular portion 12 is partly cut away at its upper end to allow for the discharge of dummy blocks onto a Ibracket 88 (Fig. 1) attached to the tubular portion.

4When handling round material, the operation is normally started by causing one round dummy block to roll/down the chute 10. The dummy enters housing 11 and continues its movement on Ithe inclined cover When passing over plate 44 between guide plates 36. the cover plate 44, the dummy depresses the upper arm of bell Vcrank lever 50 and is thereafter stopped upon contact with the wear plateV assembly 18. Due to the movement of lever 50, limit switch 56 is actuated and causes pressure uid to enter cylinder 22 so that the piston rod 24 moves upwards and lifts the table 30. Dummy 17 will move off the inclined `face of wear plate assembly 18 and travel along the inner wall of tubular portion 12 `during the upward movement. As roller 80 is guided in slot84, the table 30 while rising will at the same-Y time make -the desired turning motion so that thel axis of dummy `177 will be turned through an angle of 90 degrees. The table will finally be stopped in the discharge position shown in chain lines in Fig. 2 and i-n full lines in Fig. 3. Since the wall of housing 11 is cut away at 86, the dummy block is free'to roll off table 30 onto bracket 88 which leads to the loading station of the press.

Referring to Fig. 5, the dummy block handling device is converted for feeding oblong or rectangular, flat dummies simply by removing the screws 48 and cover plate 44. The oblong or rectangular dummies will thus be supported by the rollers 42, which will facilitate the feeding operation. The chute (Fig. l) may likewise be provided with rollers or may be replaced entirely by a rollerway. Limit switch 56 is again used for the control of table After Vthe equipment has been adjusted for oblong material, one oblong, at dummy indicated in chain lines atV 92 in Fig. 5 is caused to enter housing 11 so that it is received on the table 30. When passing over the rollers 42, theV dummy moves bell crank lever 50v so that limit switch 56 is actuated. Table 30 is then lifted and handling of round dummy blocks and the dummy will be discharged onto bracket 88 (Fig. 1) to be received at the loading station of the press.

Limit switch 56 controls the cylinder and piston unit 20 by conventional means such as solenoid operated valves, pilot operated valves, etc.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as dened.

in the appended claims.

Having described `my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A convertible handling device for selectively feeding disk-shaped and oblong, flat tools to a horizontal metal working machine comprising a stationary vertical, substantially cylindrical housing having an opening near its lower end for receiving one of said tools, a member movable within said housing between an initial position and' an elevatedv position and having a passage therethrough, said passage being aligned with said opening in the initial position of said movable member to accommodate said one tool, an inclined rollerway in said passage, plate means releasably connected to the movable member in an inclined position within said passageso as to cover said rollerway when in place on said member, mechanism for lifting said member to itsl elevated position and for simultaneously turning it substantially through a right angle, and means in the region of the upper end of said housing for discharging said tool from said device upon completion of said lifting and turning movement.

2. A. convertible handling device for yselectively feeding disk-shaped and oblong, at toolsto a horizontal metal; Working machine comprising a stationary vertical, substantially cylindrical housing having an opening. near its lower end for receiving one of said tools, a member movable within said housing between an initial position and an elevated position and having a passage therethrough, said passage being aligned with said opening in.

the initial position of said movable member to accommodate said` one tool, an inclined rollerway in said passage, plate means releasably connected to the movable member in an inclined position within said passage so as to cover said -rollerway when in placeon, said member,

a cylinder and piston unit fixed to said housing for lifting said member to its elevated position, cooperating guide means on said housing and said member for turning said member substantially through a right angle during said lifting movement, control means engaged by said tooll upon entry thereof in ,said passage to cause actuation of said unit, and means at the upper end of said housing for discharging said' tool from said device upon completion of said lifting and turning movement.

3. A device as specified in claim 2, in which said plate means has an opening therein, said control means extending upwardly between individual rollers of said rollerway and through said opening when said plate means is connected to said movable member.

Watson et al. May 24, 1955 Dammert Feb. 24, 1959 

